EKPC lobbying for later night bus has worked

East Keswick Parish Council has had concerns about the X99 bus service reliability and timetable ever since Transdev/Harrogate and District took over the service.

Because buses were stabled at Starbeck (whereas Firstbus used Hunslet depot) the timetable had been changed to avoid a late bus having to travel to Starbeck empty. Consequently Transdev made the last southbound bus 2210 from Wetherby. east Keswick Parish Council argues that was too early for villagers to enjoy a night at the cinema in Wetherby or in its pubs and restaurants. EKPC argued this must be having an effect on Wetherby’s night time economy and on the ability for young people to take hospitality jobs in the town.

East Keswick parish Council suggested a compromise: a 2310 journey from Wetherby through East Keswick as far as Bardsey Bank Top only, allowing the bus to then turn left and head for Starbeck.

This compromise has now found funding and approval (thanks to our ward councillors Matt and Sam and Alan Lamb of Wetherby Council) and the timetable change starts October 27th for an experimental six month period.

EKPC will continue to lobby Transdev and Metro/WYCA regarding the poor reliability of this service. It remains of the opinion that too many buses miss on what is an already inadequate hourly timetable and that overcrowding on peak hour services is a direct result of allowing the X99 to carry passengers on short journeys within Leeds already catered for by the city’s frequent local routes.